Manager of Swan lake convience store stops burglar

SWAN LAKE — The manager of the Swan Lake Country Store caught a Connecticut man burglarizing his shop Wednesday by simply telling him to stop and wait for the police, the manager and police said.

State police out of Liberty said they arrested Destin Kelly, 29, of Chester, CT, and charged him with felony burglary in the second and felony criminal mischief in the third.

The manager Ritesh Patel, 33, who lives upstairs of the shop, said he was awoken when heard noises coming from downstairs at about 12:05 a.m. When he went downstairs Patel said he recognized Kelly, who he said had been in the store before, leaving with four packs of cigarettes. Patel said told Kelly to “stop right there” and grabbed his hand until police arrived about five minutes later.

Patel said Kelly told him he was sorry and what he did was “a stupid thing.” He didn’t resist or try to run, said Patel.